Strengthening Community Trust: HKSAI Leads International Youth Week Dialogue in Uasin Gishu County

Uasin Gishu County, Kenya — The Hope Kenya Slums Adolescent Initiative (HKSAI), in collaboration with key civil society partners, successfully hosted a landmark celebration of International Youth Week, uniting youth, law enforcement, and community leaders under the theme #PolishRelationWithPolice.

The event brought together diverse stakeholders to address one of the most critical community development challenges — the relationship between young people and security agencies. Through open dialogue, collaborative activities, and leadership showcases, participants worked toward building a foundation of mutual trust and shared responsibility.

 A Strategic Theme for Lasting Impact

The theme #PolishRelationWithPolice was deliberately chosen to reflect an urgent need: transforming the way law enforcement and youth engage with each other. Misunderstandings and mistrust can hinder community stability and youth advancement. By creating a structured platform for dialogue, HKSAI and its partners demonstrated that relationships can be redefined through constructive engagement.

Key activities included:

• Leadership Dialogues – Structured conversations between senior police representatives and youth leaders.
• Collaborative Community Actions – Joint initiatives that encouraged teamwork beyond traditional roles.
• Youth Innovations Showcase – Presentations of grassroots projects addressing community safety, civic awareness, and economic empowerment.

 Partnerships Driving Change

This milestone initiative was made possible through the combined efforts of:

• Uasin Gishu CSO – Championing civic participation and public accountability.
• Smatkkey Organization – Equipping youth with leadership capacity and resilience skills.
• Jikaze Foundation – Empowering young people through mentorship and livelihood programs.

Together, these organizations contributed expertise, resources, and networks to make the event a success, demonstrating the power of collective action during IYD.

 HKSAI’s Ongoing Commitment

HKSAI remains committed to advancing the role of young people as agents of peace, progress, and civic responsibility. This year’s International Youth Week reaffirmed that when youth and law enforcement work in partnership, the results extend far beyond reduced conflict — they lay the groundwork for safer neighborhoods, informed citizenship, and inclusive growth.

“Strong communities are built on trust. By facilitating dialogue between young people and the police, we are investing in the social stability and future leadership of our nation,”

A Call to Leaders and Partners

HKSAI invites county governments, national policymakers, donor agencies, and private sector leaders to engage with and support this transformative work. Together, we can replicate these successes across Kenya, ensuring that the spirit of collaboration nurtured in Uasin Gishu becomes a nationwide model.

We appreciate you taking the time to read our article. Your interest and support inspire us to continue driving positive change in our communities. We warmly invite you to follow HKSAI on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X for more updates, stories, and opportunities to get involved.

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🌐 Learn more, partner with us, and be part of the change: www.hopeksai.org